Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 660,345'. Patented oci. 2.3,. |900` (No Model.) 3 Sheets-hmA l.

J. F SWINN'ERT ACETYLENE GAS G EN (Appl cat on led Jan. 8,

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L, ATTORNEYS No. 660,345. Patented 0st. 23, |900.

J. F. SWINNERTON.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

` (Application filed Jun. 6, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR ATTORNEY S ma 7i Z r1 n x rl I- 4.. .fH1| 25...T... i 4 f 5 4 1 a f 2 m, 1

WITNESSES:

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR P i ATTORNEY S ns co. maremma., wAsHINsToN D c Urrnn Sterns j PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. SWINNERTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,345, dated October 23, 1900.`

Application filed January 6, 1899. Serial No. 701.366. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

13e it known that I, J AMES F. SWINNERTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to those devices in which a gas is produced by the action of a liquid on a solid-such, for instance, as the production of acetylene gas.

In the drawings forming partof this speciication, Figure 1 is an elevation of the generator and gas-holder, the latter being shown in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the generator and gas-holder. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the generator, one generatingcompartment being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the generator, the cover being removed from the left-hand compartment. Fig. 5 is aview of thegenerator, showing the U-tube connection between the two cylinders and the water-supply connection. Fig. 6 is a section of Fig. 5, taken on the line a a. Fig. 7 is a detailed View of the watersupply pipe and connection between the cylinders, the parts being shown in section. Fig.` 8 is a perspective view of one of the carbidreceptacles. Fig. 9 is a plan View of t-he gaswasher. Fig. 10 is a section of the Washer, taken on the line b b. Fig. ll is a section of the washer, taken on the line c c. Fig. 12 is a section of one of the traps used for collecting the water that may be forced over with the gas. Fig. 13 is a detail of the water-supply pipe and connection between the two cylinders, the section being taken on the line dd of Fig. 7 looking in the direction ofthe arrow. Fig. 14 shows the rvalve in the watersupply pipe. x

Upon a basel (see Fig. 3) are placed cylinders 2. On top of these cylinders is a tank 4, substantially oval-shaped, whose size is such that it projects beyond the tops of the cylinders. Inside of'ea'ch of the cylinders 2 is placed a cylinder 3, of less diameter than the cylinders 2. These cylinders do not eX- tend to the bottoms of the cylinders2, but terminate at a distance above the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The tops of the cylinders, however, project up through the bottom of the tank 4 to a height equal to the let are pipes 17. lby the T or fitting 18, with one branch of depth of said tank. This construction is also clearly shown in Fig. 3. For each of these cylinders there is provided a cover 5which has a downwardly-projecting ange 7, so that when placed in position a water sealis formed, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. In the center of these covers is a conical depression, in the bottom of which is a valve 8, of any desired form. These covers, in fact, form a tank in which is placed a supply of water for t he purpose of giving them sufficient weight to keep the cover down against the pressure in the generator. The covers are provided with 'handles 9 for the purpose of removing them.

Inside of these cylinders 3 are placed a series of carbid-holders 10.. These carbid-holders are divided into a series of compartments 11, these compartments being so formed that a central passage 12 is left through the holder. The bottoms of the compartments are imperforate. One of the compartments connects with this central passage through an orifice 13 in the edgethereof, and the compartments communicate witheach other through a notch or cut 14in the top of the partitions dividing one of the compartments from the other. A

, number of these carbid-holders are placed in the cylinder, the lower one resting on vprojections 15, as shown in Fig. 3. Each receptacle has a projection `10 for engagement with a tool of suitable form for lifting them out of the' cylinder.

On each ot' the cylinders 2 is an inlet 16, which communicates with the space between the cylinders 2 and 3. Connected to this in- These pipes are connected which is connected the water-supply pipe 18X, and in the Tis a valve 19, by which the water can be caused to How into either cylinder, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 7. This valve is operated by the handle 19X, said handle being provided withv a pointer or device 20, which indicates. whic'h way the valve is turned. (See Fig. 2.) This valve-operating handle is so made that it projects over the top of the cover of the receptacle into which Water-'is flowing in such a manner that the cover cannot be removed until the valve is turned to direct the flow of water into the other cylinder. These inlets 16 are also connected by a U-pipe 20, the passage leading from said in- '.31 and 32.

lets to the U-pipe being at a higher level than that from the pipe 17, as clearly shown in detail in Fig. 13. The pipe 18X is connected to any suitable source of water-supply-as, in this instance, a tank 21, Fig. l-the head of water being as low as possible. Connecting with the inner cylinder at about the height of t-he top of the outer cylinder is a pipe or passage-way 22, which passes out through the outer cylinder and is provided with a sight-glass 23. (See Fig. 3.) Each of these passages is connected, by means of a short pipe 24, with a gas-washer 25. This gaswasher, which is best shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11, consists of a cylinder closed at the top and open at the bottom, projecting up into which are the washer-tubes 26 and the outlet-pipe 27. These washer-tubes are closed at the top and open at the bottom and into them runs the pipe 24, said pipe extending to nearly the top of the tubes. On top of the pipe 24 is a movable cover 28. The bottom of each tube has a series of small perforations, as shown at 29. This-washer, it will be observed, is placed in the tank 4 and is secured there in any suitable manner. The outlet-pipe runs down in the space between the cylinders and to a gas-holder 30. The gas-holder is formed with a base 50, the bottom of the tank being at a distance from the ground. From side toside of this base runs a continuation of the pipe 27. This construction has the eect of strengthening the tank. This outlet-pipe has a branch 31, leading to the upper part of the gas-holder, and a branch 32, by which 'the gas is drawn off for use. This pipe is provided at suitable intervals with traps 45 to collect any water which may pass 'over with the gas. The construction of these traps is clearly shown in Fig. l2 and will need no further description. Connected to the outlet-pipe beneath the center ot` the gas-holder and running up into the same is a pipe 33. Connected to the movable cover of the gasholder is a pipe 34, which surrounds said pipe 33, the lower end of pipe 34 having suitable packing, as shown at 35. This acts as a guide to steady the movement of the telescoping part of the gas-holder. Immediately above the packing the pipe 34 is provided with a series of apertures 36. let-pipe has plugs 37 between the connection for the pipe 33 and the connections of the pipes To one branch of the fitting with which the pipe 33 is connected is connected a pipe 38, leading either to the outer air or to a second gas-holder. Attached to the top of the telescoping part of the gas-holder is a rod 39, having thereon project-ions 40, which are arranged to come into contact with a wheel or handle 41 of a valve in the Water-supply pipe, `(see Figs. 1 and 14,) the arrangement being such that as the movable part of the gas-holder rises to a certain limit the valve will be closed and as it falls the valve will be opened. I prefer to use such a form of valve that the full The outdescent of the movable bell of the gas-holder will entirely close the feed.

In the base lis formed a chamber or receptacle 42, to which is connected a wastepipe 43, and at the bottom of each cylinder 2 is placed a wastecock 44, which when opened will cause the water in said cylinders to How into the chamber 42.

1t will be noted that as the water rises in the annular space between the cylinders the air in said space would become compressed to such a degree that it would equal the pres sure of the head of water, consequently preventing any iiow of water unless some pro- Vision were made to obviate this difiiculty. I therefore provide a passage 3X on the outside of the inner cylinder, connecting the space between the cylinders 2 and 3 with the space at the top of the cover above the water seal. This passage allows the gas being generated to pass into the upper part of the annular space into which water is flowing,thus equalizing the pressure and obviating this difficulty.

The operation of the device is as follows: The covers being removed from the inner cylinders, the carbid-receptacles are charged with the proper amount of carbid and are placed in position, as shown in Fig. 3. The covers are then replaced, the valve 8 being closed. The valve in the water-supply pipe is now opened and water flows into the space between the cylinders 2 and 3 and under the bottom ,of cylinder 2 and rises through the passage in the center of the carbid-holders through the passage 13 into one of the compartments of the holder, whereupon the gas is generated. When the carbid in this compartment is exhansted,the water flows through the notch 14 into the next compartment, and so on to each compartment of the holder, and when one holder is exhausted the water rises through the central passage to the next one, and so on, the Water of course rising at the same time in the space between the cylinders. When the water has reached the top oi the cyl- 'inder and all the carbid is exhausted, any fu rther iow of waterwill cause the level to rise to the connection of the U-pipe 20, whereupon the iiow of water will be at once diverted to the second cylinder. The time at which this takes place can be observed through the sightglass 23. The valve 19 is then turned so that the second cylinder is connected directly with the source of water-supply, and the Utube being full of water will of course act as a seal to prevent any gas formed inl the second cylinder from passing into the first. .The water in the rst cylihder is now drawn off through the waste-cock 44, which is facilitated by opening the valve 8 for the admission of air. The carbid-receptacles are then taken out, recharged, and placed back. The first tank is then ready for use when the second one shall have become exhausted. Meantime the gas being formed passes through the outlets 22 into the washer, raising by its pressure the IOO loose cap 28 and forcing down the Water-level in the tube 26 below the perfor-ations 29. The gas passes through these perforations in fine globules up to the top of the Washer-and down through the pipe 27 and its connections to pipe 3l and into the gas-holder, the gas being drawn off for use through the pipe 32. By this simple Washer the gas is thoroughly and effectively cleansed and purified. Any water that may be carried over with the gas is caught by the traps 45. Of course as the gas accumulates the movable part of the gas holder rises, and if the supply of gas be too rapid the supply of water to 'the carbid will be cut off by means of the rod 39, actuating the valve in the water-supply pipe, and as the gas is drawn off or the pressure diminishes the fall of the movable part Will open said valve again. Should, however, any sudden accumulation of gas occur which could not be quickly and entirely controlled by cutting off the supply of water, and thus force the bell of thek gas-holder up, it Would, before said bell beca-ine unsealed, bring the perforations 36 above the level of the Water, thus affording an instant vent for the gas, which would pass through the pipe 33 and into the air or to a second gas-holder. Thus an efficient safety device is provided.

By admitting water to the vspace between the cylinders and causing it to pass into the carbid-chamber from the bottom it is possible to have a very rapid ow of water Without l effective.

any violent agitation in the generating-chainber, thus producing a true Wetprocess machine. lt will also be observed that there is in the Whole system but one valve requiring manipulation by the operator-namely, the valve for diverting the flow of water from one cylinder to the other. When the operator, by means of the sight-glass 23, sees that one chamber has become exhausted and proceeds to recharge the same, he must, before the cover can be lifted off, move the valve to cause the flow to proceed directly to the other chamber. The valve is left in that position, and nothing is necessary but to recharge the first chamber, as the water will be automatically diverted from the second chamber to the first one again at the proper time, and if during the operation of the generator said valve should be moved, either by accident or design, no harm can result, as the Water Would simply be caused to How into the other chamber, and it is impossible forthe water to flow from one chamber to the other until the chambers in which the direct flow enters is exhausted. It is not necessary either in recharging to close any valves to prevent the flow of gas from the holder, the Washer in itself forming an effective seal, and the U-tube eectually p prevents the backflow of gas from one chamber to the other. All danger from leakage or too-rapid production of gas is therefore practically eliminated. This feed of Water into the space between the cylinders has also another important resultfnamely, that the sediment or refuse cannot pa'ss from one generating-chamber to the other.

By my construction of carbid-holder important results are produced. A small proportion of the carbid is acted on by the water, and While this action takes place the gas thereby produced does not pass through rthe remaining carbid, but out through the passage and up through the central flue. As the only communication between the different chambers of the holder is at the top ofv When the various chambers in one The gas all passes up through the central flue and out through the pipe into the washer. The importance of these advantages will be apparent at once to those skilled in the art,

as by the fact that there is no direct circulation of gas over unused carbid and that no sediment islcarried out into the central tube the advantages sought to be `gained by subdivision of the carbid are fully attained in this construction. The advantages of the central flue as forming a ready outlet for the p gas being generated are important.

The gas-washer is exceedingly simple and It not only thoroughly Washes and cleanses the gas, but the gas itself has but a construction most of the impurities in the gas will be deposited at the bottom of the washer f and out of the way of the gas in its passage through the Washer. The washer also forms a most effective seal to prevent the backliow of gas from the gas-holder.

Another advantage of the construction is that by placing the Washer in the tank on top of the cylinders it is in communication with the entire body of Water in said tank, thus greatly lessening the danger of the washer becoming foul through neglect or failing to perform its function on account of the loss of Water by evaporation. t l

p rlhe covers for the carbid-cylinders, which l are ballasted or weighted down by Water, not only form an effective sealing device, but render entirely unnecessary any positive fastening or holding-down device. Thus these covers are readily removable, and by the central depression containing the valve 8 the cylinders are readily drained when exhausted.

In this machine danger is reduced to a minimum. The principal danger in this classof machine lies in the gas escapingand forming an explosive compound when mixed with air. When the covers are removed for recharging, as it is not necessary to turn any valves the only gas which can escape into the air is the very inconsiderable quantity contained in the pipe 24 and the space in the cover around very short path to travel, and owing to the IIO the water-chamber. There is absolutely no other chance for leakage, except through defects in the construction of the joints, which of course it is possible to entirely guard against.

The machine is also extremely economical. The means for introducing the water and of subdividing the carbid insures the evolution of the gas at a low heat. The result of this is the production of the greatest amount of gas of the highest quality.

Attention is again called to the arrangement by which one-half of the charge is always held in reserve and to means by which the operator can at once tell Without opening the tanks when one chamber has become exhausted.

The arrangement by which the water is drawn o from the exhausted chamber is exceedingly simple and compact and of great utility in the practical operation of the device.

It will be noted that by my system of feeding from the annular space between the cylinders an effective wateijacket is provided, the advantages of which are too obvious to require special mention.

The construction of, the gas-holder and the safety device is such that the necessity for any outside guides for the movable part of the gasholder is obviated.

The loose cap on the pipe 24 acts as a checkvalve to prevent the pumping of water from the washer in case the cylinder-cover is removed without opening the air-inlet valve, thus causing a partial vacuum in the cylinder.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in my construction without in any way departing from my invention. For instance, for the outer cylinder may be substituted a portion only of a cylinder which does not surround the inner cylinder, but forms a space or chamber into which the water flows and from which it is conducted to the carbidcylinder.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. In a gas-generator, the combination of a cylinder for containing carbid, a water-inlet for the same, a tank on said cylinder, through the bottoni of which said cylinder extends, a cover for said cylinder, said cover having a downwardly-projecting flange, and a gaswusher in said tank, substantially as described.

2. In a gas-generator, the combination ot' a cylinder for containing carbid, a water-inlet for the same, a tank on said cylinder, through the bottom of which said cylinder extends, a cover for said cylinder, said cover having a downwardly-projecting ange, said cover having also an annular .chamber to contain water, substantially as described.

3. In a gas-generator, the combination of an outer cylinder, a tank on top of same, a gas-washer in said tank, an inner cylinder for containing carbid, said cylinder projecting through the bottom ot' the tank, a cover for said inner cylinder, said cover having a downwardly-projecting flange whereby the top of the cylinder is sealed, and means for introducing water into the carbid-cylinder, substantially as described. i

4. The combination of an outer cylinder, a tank on top of same, an inner cylinder for containing carbid, said cylinder projecting through the bottom of the tank, a cover for said inner cylinder, said cover having a downwardly-projecting iiauge whereby the top of the cylinder is sealed, and means for introducing water into the carbid-cylinder, and a passage connecting the space between the cylinders with the space above the water seal of the cover, substantially as described.

5. In a gas-generator, the combination ot' Athe outer cylinder having tank on the top of the same, an inner cylinder for containing carbid, said inner cylinder projecting through the bottom ot' said tank, a cover for said inner cylinder, said cover havinga downwardlyprojecting flange, said cover having also an,

annular water-chamber, a valve at the center of the bottom of said cover, and handles on the inner side of said annular chamber.

6. In a gas-generator, the combination of inner and outer cylinders, the inner cylinders adapted to contain carbid, a water-supply pipe connecting with the annular spaces between the cylinders, adapted to supply water to either cylinder, and means to prevent the opening of the cylinder into which water is flowing without positively diverting the iiow to the other cylinder, substantially as described.

7. In a gas-generator, the combination of generating chambers, a water supply pipe connected thereto, a valve in said pipe adapted to divert the iiow to either chamber, a device actuated by said valve for locking the cover of the chamber into which water is fiowing, said locking device being so placed that in order to open one chamber the valve must be moved to divert the flow of water into the other chamber, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 4th day of January, A. D. 1899.

JAMES F. SWINNERTON.

Witnesses:

E. M. HARMON, H. J. LILLIE.

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